When the LMSI was founded six and a half years ago, it was easier to count the dioceses where Latin Mass activity was going on than those where nothing was happening.  Now it is the other way around.  I can name the dioceses of Cloyne, Kerry, Clonfert, Ossory, Kilmore and Dromore as dioceses in which there is no reported progress.

In Cloyne, former papal secretary Bishop Magee has resisted all attempts to allow the Mass in his diocese, in spite of the presence of Father Gabriel Burke there, who is now fighting a lonely struggle on the issue of Cobh Cathedral.  In Kerry, Bishop Murphy has not done anything to reverse his predecessor's absolute no.  In Clonfert, Bishop Kirby's response to requests even for Novus Ordo Latin liturgy has been quoted as "we want to get away from all that". In Ossory, Bishop Forristal has said he will allow no traditional rite Mass in the diocese - he is due to retire this year.  We have no report about Kilmore or Bishop Leo O'Reilly - his predecessor only allowed one nuptial Mass in the diocese in 1995.  Nor have we any report about Bishop McAreavey in Dromore, whose predecessor was quite hostile to allowing an indult Mass there.  Of these, both the Kerry and Dromore dioceses have well established SSPX Mass centres.  Kilmore is the home diocese of Ireland's only SSPX seminarist.

Against the six dioceses which have no Mass provision, there are twenty dioceses who have some Mass provision.  In most cases this is no more than once a year and in three cases (Clogher, Killaloe and Waterford & Lismore), the bishop is prepared to allow the Mass.  This points to the main weaknesses in the traditional movement in Ireland.  I will identify two.  Firstly we need more priests who are willing and able to say the Mass.  Secondly we need more lay organisers to establish a presence in various dioceses and areas.

I will take the issue of priests first.  There is no doubt that there are quite a few priests throughout Ireland who are willing and able to say the Mass and that they are not all old and infirm.  However, the number who are available is small.  Older priests may lack the stamina for long journeys and younger priests find it difficult to incorporate Latin Masses in distant venues into their already busy schedules.  I need not remark on the blow to the traditional cause in Ireland which came on the death of Father Wilders.  Fortunately, that is not a totally bleak affair.  There are priests in several dioceses who have expressed an interest in learning to say the Mass.  The dioceses of Down & Conor, Derry, Clogher, Armagh, Elphin, Killala, Ferns, Limerick and Cork & Ross come to mind.  We must act upon this good will.  If we can improve on the situation through providing Kieron Wood's video The Most Beautiful Thing This Side of Heaven which is now due out in DVD, we will do this.  If we can provide actual classes for priests to learn to say the Mass, we will do this.  Finally, if we can find priests who are interested in saying the Mass anywhere in Ireland, we will do this.  But we need our members' help.

We need lay organisers, especially in areas in which we are not yet established.  The experience of the LMSI since October 1999 has proved time and time again that there is no knowledge like local knowledge.  The federal provincial system has served the society very well.  I will now propose further decentralisation.  I have pointed out that though we have been using the term 'Provincial Convenor', the term does not appear in the constitution - the society vice-presidents are described as provincial chairmen.  I am not changing this for change sake.  The provincial organisations may also have their own secretaries, treasurers, chaplains and other officers as they see fit.  It is the diocesan organisation, though, that I wish to discuss.  In dioceses where the society is not strong, I propose we have an official called a 'Diocesan Representative' who can provide us with information and who may officially contact the diocesan authorities on behalf of and in consultation with the society.  In dioceses where the society is better established, the 'Diocesan Officer' may do this and also proactively seek opportunities for the celebration of Mass within the diocese and play an active role in the provincial organisation.  In dioceses where the society is strong, a 'Diocesan Convenor' may head a committee working for the traditional Mass in that diocese.  I can think of a few dioceses to which this arrangement might apply - e.g. Cork & Ross, Limerick, Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora and Dublin.

There are those who might find a formal role within the society daunting.  But there are three ways that ordinary members may be of great assistance. Obviously, financial contributions are greatly appreciated.  More importantly the society needs prayers.  I should emphasise that we are in as much need for prayers in thanksgiving as prayers in petition.  Without prayer, we could do nothing at all.  Finally, another invaluable way to assist the society is through information.

Every year I have addressed the AGM since 2002 (even when I had to post my address in 2004), I have said the current year promises to be the biggest year ever.  No year has disappointed and 2006 already appears to be a milestone year in the society's history.  In particular I will look south to Munster.  First of all let me congratulate those who have worked to make the monthly Indult Mass in Cork happen: Maurice O'Brien, Dermot O'Grady, Jim O'Sullivan and John Scanlan.  I should also refer to Des and Jim Roche who put a lot of work into the early stages of the campaign and to James Lothian who initiated events in the Cork and Ross Diocese in 2002.  Next Sunday (30 April) will see the first of a monthly Sunday indult Mass in Limerick.  Father Wulgran Lebocq of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest will say Mass in St. Patrick's Church, Dublin Road, Limerick.  We will soon have details to hand, but this appears to be the first step taken by the Institute of Christ the King towards a permanent apostolate in Ireland.  All credit is due to the tireless work of the Nestor family since the society's inception in 1999.  With established Masses in Limerick and Cork, opportunities will open in the rest of the province.

Connaught suffered a blow when Father Wilders died earlier this month.  The future of St. Patrick's Academy, Islandeady is now in the hands of God.  Next door in Killala, the monthly Indult Mass takes place in Rathduff, Co.Mayo.  This had been in the pastoral centre in Ballina, on the Cathedral grounds.  However, Connaught is showing signs of strength.  Mass takes place frequently in Galway.  Mass takes place regularly in Tuam.  And there were also Masses in the Elphin and Achonry dioceses.  In Achonry, Mass took place in St. Nathy's Cathedral, Ballaghadereen last June.  With four days notice and no advertising, about 60 locals showed up to the Mass in Ireland's smallest cathedral town.  Many said they had been at Masses in Knock over the years.  In Connaught, the bulk of the work is shouldered by John Heneghan, with Robert Lane taking on more and more - especially in Galway.  In Sligo, John Martyn never gave up on the idea of Mass at the Mass Rock beside the Holy Well at Tobernalt outside Sligo Town.  This year, he was able to organise it for the first time.  The society's website, now http://www.latinmassireland.org , is also directed from Connaught, thanks to the efforts of Colm Greene.  Colm has also put together the new Brandsma Review website, which gives news commentary from Ireland from a traditionalist perspective: www.brandsmareview.net

Ulster has seen expansion in the past year.  In addition to the Sunday and First Friday Indults in the Raphoe Diocese, groups have convened in both Derry and Belfast to seek a more regular celebration of Mass in those dioceses - Masses said in both cities have drawn crowds.  Most impressively, Jonathan Brady organised a petition in his own parish in Newbliss in Co. Monaghan (Clogher Diocese).  We hope that Mass will take place there in the near future.  When Jonathan Brady got underway with this petition last summer, he was only 14 years of age.  Ulster benefits considerably by the presence of Fathers Joseph Briody and Kevin Driver, but it is held together by Proinnsias Ó Muireagain and his wife Fionnuala.

Finally, the home province of Leinster.  Leinster does have the best established indult Mass in a central location, but very little else.  But there are many positive developments in Leinster too.  This January saw the second Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk in the Armagh Archdiocese.  Several Masses have been held in the past few years in Batterstown, Co. Meath, courtesy of our chaplain, Father Michael Cahill.  I will refer especially to the Mass on the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul last year which drew a large local crowd.  The St. Mary's Male Voice choir assisted.  There is considerable interest in the Mass in Navan and Dundalk, but in both cases we would need a priest able to make a commitment to regular Masses before anything further could be done.  In regard to Longford (Ardagh & Clonmacnois), plans for the Abbe Edgeworth bicentenary next year are underway.  To the south of Dublin, the Ferns Diocese shows the most promise.  There is every hope that the position of Father John Brady C.S.Sp. in Wexford Town will be formalised under the new bishop.  In Kildare & Leighlinn, the bishop seems willing to grant annual or occasional celebrations of Mass, but nothing more regular.  Again the presence of an active priest willing and able to say the Mass on an ongoing basis in the area would make a huge difference.  In respect of the society, the contributions made by Nick Lowry, eamonn Gaines, Ciaran MacGuill and Kieron Wood are gratefully appreciated.

In the summary above, was perhaps optimistic.  I think we have reasons to be optimistic, but we need to be realistic too.  I gave a diocesan analysis of the Irish situation.  If I was to go on a county analysis the picture would be different.  Every coastal county has the Mass on an ongoing basis except Kerry, Waterford and Down.  If I move inland, only Kildare, Tipperary and Roscommon have the Mass on any basis.  This will have to be addressed.  But this inland situation has moved on since I said in 1999 that in all the 14 inland counties, the only indult Mass takes place once a year in Holycross Abbey, Co. Tipperary.

To return to the question of priests, the possible establishment of the Institute of Christ the King in Limerick will make a very big difference.  I can be very hopeful of the coming to Ireland of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in the future, but this is less imminent.  On 29 June this year, Brother Henri-Marie of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer will be ordained to the priesthood in Fontgombault Abbey.  Brother Henri-Marie was in Dublin just over a decade ago as an exchange student known as Matthieu Favelin and he served Mass in St. Paul's, Arran Quay that summer.  He has specifically asked for our prayers.  This strengthens the connexion between Ireland and the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer, but it will be a very long time before they are ready to come.

I have said in the past that the pillars of the Latin Mass Society of Ireland were the three pre-eminently good works of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  In this regard the two annual penitential pilgrimages- the Bealach Colm Cille from Glasnevin to Glendalough in June and the Tóchar Padraig from Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick in July - have driven the work of the society.  These are inspired by the Paris-Chartres walk, but draw upon Irish tradition.  This year, an Australian group has expressed interest in the former and a French group has expressed interest in the latter.  Though I am going to invite our entire membership to participate in both, I am aware that this will not be possible for everyone.  But for those for whom the walk would be too much, I would suggest other means of participation.  Most directly, we need people to provide logistical support on both occasions.  This includes ferrying of luggage from place to place, picking up exhausted pilgrims and sometimes carrying water and sandwiches to the pilgrims.  All offers of help will be gratefully received.  For those who cannot participate as logisticians, you may spiritually assist the pilgrimage by joining with the pilgrims in your prayers on both two-day occasions.

To wrap up, let me thank all the celebrants of the past year: Father Michael Cahill, Father Thomas Cunningham, C.S.Sp., Father Gabriel Burke, Father James Buckley, F.S.S.P., Father Joseph Briody, Father Arnaud Devillers, F.S.S.P., Monsignor Michael Schmitz, Father Seraphin Kennedy, O.F.M., Monsignor Declan Murphy and Father Richard von Menshengen-Thernberg.  There were a number of other contributors too: Father Gerard Rice, Dom Alcuin Reid, O.S.B. and Scott Schittl, an Irish citizen who is a student in Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary.  Finally, I would like to thank all the various longsuffering spouses and families of the society's officers.

Peadar Laighleis